Tornadoes reported as more severe weather moves across South

A National Weather Service radar image shows storm activity in northern Texas and Arkansas on Tuesday. Image courtesy National Weather Service

April 23 (UPI) -- A southern swath of the United States could see heavy rain, hail, strong winds and possibly tornadoes in the next couple of days, forecasters said Tuesday.

At least two tornadoes were reported overnight Monday in the area of western Texas, officials said. Flood watches have been issued for parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, with some areas predicted to get up to 4 inches of rain Tuesday and Wednesday.

"As much as two to four inches of rain, with locally higher amounts, is forecast across central and eastern Texas," the NWS said. "This activity should shift into the lower Mississippi Valley by Thursday as a dominate surface low develops along the boundary."

The storm system follows a major front that swept across the United States last week, causing the deaths of at least five people.

The NWS said temperatures in the East will be 5 to 15 degrees higher than normal for the next two days, but will then fall as much as 20 degrees under normal when the cold front arrives.